ST. LOUIS – Arlene Seper and Luke Cain prove good things come to those who wait. COVID-19 delayed their wedding plans two years, and after finally tying the knot in March 2022, the pandemic postponed their honeymoon another two years.
“Things were still shutdown in Asia. Japan’s borders didn’t open until October of 2022. We waited for those to finally reopen so we could go,” Luke said.
In March, the couple’s patience was rewarded with a trip they’ll never forget.
“We went to Tokyo, Hikone, Kyoto, and Osaka. People say, ‘It’s really clean over there,’ but it’s really clean over there,” Arlene said. “And the people are just so genuinely kind.”
Arlene and Luke are among the surge of post-pandemic international travelers pouring into Japan. The Japan National Tourism Organization says more than three million travelers visited the country for three consecutive months ending in May.
“Starting in January, we’ve seen a lot of people gravitating towards we want to go to Japan,” Lydia Gwin, a Japan-certified travel advisor for Sky High Travel in St. Louis, said.
Gwin says the company’s Japan bookings have increased 40% since 2021.
“I think with the yen kind of taking a decline and the dollar having a better value in Japan, it increased a lot of interest,” Gwin said. “It’s made it more attainable for people to go to Japan than before.”
In April, Japan’s currency fell to its lowest value since 1990. Currently, a single US dollar is equal to roughly 158 yen.
“Our dollar stretched a lot further than we were expecting. The expensive part was getting there – the flight,” Luke said. “But once we were there, we bought so many souvenirs, we had to buy an extra suitcase to ship everything back home; and candy.”
The influx of foreign tourists has greatly boosted Japan’s economy, but it’s also increased safety, environmental, and overcrowding problems. In a town west of Tokyo, a black mesh net was installed to block the view of Mount Fuji and deter tourists from overcrowding the streets.
“Overtourism is a serious problem, not only in Yamanashi, but also in the whole country. Mount Fuji is no exception,” Yamanashi Prefecture Governor Kotaro Nagasaki said.
Lydia Gwin says preparing her clients for a trip to Japan is more than just a rundown of their itinerary.
“We’ll sit down and talk about the cultural things. The dos and don’ts that might feel customary to us, that could be offensive in other countries,” Gwin said. “You’re in their country. You’re in their backyard, so just be respectful about that.”
Arlene and Luke say they felt welcomed as American tourists, but they purposely avoided some of the traditional tourist traps.
“I don’t want to push the boundaries. I don’t want to be the problem, so we just took ourselves out of that part,” Luke said. “Decided that’s a cool experience, I’m glad some people get to experience it, but I’m ok with not causing disruption because we are visiting them.”
And after a trip full of good food and unique fun, the couple whose patience proved to be a virtue has some contradictory advice for those planning a trip to Japan.
“Life’s short. Don’t wait on it. Just go. It’s worth it. 110%,” Arlene said.
